Distressing Symptoms... Dissociation Of Sorts? Help Please?

[chant2012]

I was in my T's office and I was talking about something hard I guess. I think I was talking about my most recent r*pe back in September or maybe something about my dad I don't know?

Anyway, I started off just feeling 'spacey'. Not all the way there ya know? I felt 'off'. That makes sense right? And then it progressed to feeling floaty. Like I could just drift off somewhere. Next thing I know I am kind of freaking out and screaming for my T to not let me float away.

You see, I was also 'spinning'. I felt like it anyway. It felt like I was in a Snowglobe and someone was shaking it all around and I am going rightside up and upside down and side to side. In circles. It was so awful. I got dizzy and disoriented. My body started to tingle and I could almost 'hear' my thoughts? I don't know how to explain it. They were moving so fast I could 'hear' them in there... It is hard to explain...

I started to hyperventilate. So, my T suggested I hold onto her desk to 'feel its solidness and thus feel like I am more "still"'... It kind of worked. Then she helped me deep breathe and relax some. I started to regain composure but all day after I felt 'off' up in there (my head).


On December 29th 2012 (anniversary) I was so spacey, and off and on certain body parts would tingle and then go numb and I would just be on auto-pilot almost. Like I was 'awake sleepwalking' lol. I was just going through the motions.

Does ANYONE know what this all could be? Expecially the spinning part. I have felt floaty before... But never numb and spinning or then just random body parts go numb. Like my left hand and fingers or my right should and wrist would tingle and go numb.

Any help????? Please? I know a lot of it was panic attack/slight dissociation but the spinning part didn't make sense to me.

Thanks you all. A lot. Blessings to you all. Safe :hug::hug::hug: if OK.

Chantel ♥

 

[cherryblossom]

The spinning, numbness and tingling all sound like physical reactions due to hyperventilating (breathing too quickly and/or too deeply), during a panic/ anxiety attack.

I don't know if you are medically / scientifically minded, so I'll try to keep the explanation as simple as possible!!

If you breathe too quickly / too deeply, we 'blow' off too much carbon dioxide (CO2), which messes with the blood, and makes it more alkaline. This constricts the blood vessels, which reduces the amount of oxygen and other vital stuff getting to the brain, so you feel dizzy (like everything is spinning). If hyperventilation is prolonged, the outcome could be fainting.

In addition to that, when the blood is more alkaline, there is a reduction in the amount of calcium available to the muscles and nerves, which causes numbness and tingling. Particularly in hands, feet, and lips (peripheries), since these are the area's 'last to be served' by the blood. If this continues, the muscles can go into a sort of spasm (known as tetany), particularly in the hands, where the fingers curl inwards, rather like claws.

Other symptoms of hyperventilation can be chest pain, slurred speech and headaches.

Part of the problem with panic attacks is just how physically dreadful it can make you feel. This makes you panic even more, continue hyperventilating, and therefore continue getting symptoms. It really can be a viscous cycle, especially if you are on your own, with no one to help you focus and reassure.

As soon as breathing returns to normal for several minutes, symptoms will begin to resolve, but can take around half an hour to an hour of normal breathing before resolving completely.

Once you understand that the physical symptoms are solely because you are breathing too fast, and not because you are dying (which is how it feels), panic attacks do become easier to manage. The main thing to remember if you are anxious and stressed, and start to feel those physical reactions is to concentrate on slowing your breathing, and also reducing the depth of your breathing, back towards a normal resting rate and depth. Slowing the breathing is normally the first step, but that usually encourages deep breathing, so we need to work on the depth of breathing too.

I'm a Paramedic, so I have coached hundreds of people (and myself!) through panic attacks.

It's not dangerous, if the hyperventilation is due to anxiety/ panic. (I only say that because seriously ill people can hyperventilate due to their medical condition, which is totally different to panic attacks). The worst case scenario is that you will faint. But if you are unconscious, you no longer panic, and your breathing returns to normal, and you recover quickly.

 

[chant2012]

Thank you for your reply Cherry! :) It means a lot to me. Actually, I am an RN so I know about all of that but you see the spinning happened before I started to hyperventilate.

I thought about what you said too. A few days after it happened I thought about all the different possible reasons and the hyperventilation crossed my mind for sure but I then I remembered that I started breathing rapidly due to the spinning sensation and other feelings. Although I don't think the hyperventilation caused the spinning sensation initially, it probably made it worse.

Blessings and lots of love and hugs to you if okay! :)

Chantel ♥

 

[therapybankrupt]

Chant
I was going to add that I hold my breath and get light headed when anxious. I think if I am not wrong you in the beginning felt like you were spinning for me it is falling down a rollercoaster. Then everything slows down and I become disoriented like I am watching everything in a dream or movie and then terror sets in. My therapist helped me to learn grounding and has seen these pseudo seizures or dissociative episodes. That's what the pros have called them? I get really tired afterwards. Hope this helps!

TB

 

[chant2012]

Thank you this did help! Blessings to you. I guess it feels a bit different for everybody then right? Take gentle care. Safe :hug: if okay with you.